ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A Palm Coast man was arrested in the early morning hours of Aug. 12, 2026, after allegedly fleeing from law enforcement and firing a weapon from his vehicle on Interstate 95 in St. Johns County.
John Christopher Ortiz, 34, of Palm Coast, faces six charges — including a felony count of fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement with lights and sirens active, felony possession of cocaine, misdemeanor DUI, misdemeanor refusal to submit to DUI testing, misdemeanor obstruction without violence, and misdemeanor possession of drug equipment.
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Witnesses report gunshots, reckless driving
According to the arrest report filed by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, witnesses reported seeing Ortiz driving recklessly northbound on I-95 near mile marker 323. Witnesses also reported hearing the driver fire a firearm from the vehicle approximately seven times.
A responding deputy located Ortiz’s black 2016 Ford Escape swerving between the far-left and middle lanes of I-95 northbound, traveling at approximately 30 mph, according to the report.
Deputy conducts PIT maneuver to stop vehicle
The deputy activated emergency lights and sirens. According to the report, Ortiz initially changed lanes — indicating he acknowledged the traffic stop — before returning to the far-left lane and continuing northbound. The deputy then performed a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle.
While being detained, Ortiz allegedly refused to comply with lawful orders, tensing his body and turning away from deputies before being handcuffed, during a search, and while being placed in a patrol car.
Cocaine, loaded handgun found in vehicle, according to report
During a search, deputies found a red plastic straw in Ortiz’s pocket containing a white residue. A field test yielded a presumptive positive result for cocaine, according to the report.
Deputies say they also discovered a black Ruger Max-9 9mm semi-automatic handgun on the driver’s side floorboard. The firearm had one round in the chamber and five rounds in its 10-round capacity magazine. A spent 9mm casing was also found on the driver’s side floorboard, according to investigators. Ortiz was wearing a black EcoMaxx concealed carry pistol holster on his belt, which matched the handgun.
DUI suspected; Ortiz refuses testing
Deputies noted a smell consistent with alcohol on Ortiz’s breath, along with slurred speech, difficulty maintaining balance and difficulty keeping his eyes open. The report states Ortiz made several spontaneous utterances about being “high.”
At a hospital where Ortiz was taken for medical clearance, a deputy requested a urine sample to test for the presence of alcohol or controlled substances. Ortiz refused. Deputies then read him the implied consent warning, and he continued to refuse.
Ortiz was booked into the St. Johns County Jail just before 6 a.m.